Multisystemic Therapy & Conduct Disorder

A number of childhood disorders can seriously impair a child's functioning and healthy development. One example is conduct disorder, which is marked primarily by antisocial behavior. While treating conduct disorder can be extremely difficult, multisystemic therapy has been shown to help.

Multisystemic Therapy and Conduct Disorder

• Conduct disorder, or CD, is a childhood emotional disorder usually appearing in children under the age of 10, although it can also appear in adolescence. Conduct disorder is an extremely frustrating and disruptive experience for the child and his or her parents, teachers and peers. Children with conduct disorder display a range of behaviors including physical aggression, stealing, lying, truancy and sexual aggression. They have extreme difficulties in their relationships with other people, and they are often at risk for incarceration or removal from their homes.

  Multisystemic therapy, or MST, was developed a quarter-of-a-century ago to treat children displaying the range of behaviors associated with conduct disorder. Multisystemic therapy is based on the idea that a child's development is greatly shaped by his environment, and MST seeks to make changes in all areas of the child's life by working with the child, his or her parents, other family members and teachers to create a positive, supportive place in which the child can grow.

  The multisystemic therapist assesses the trouble spots in the child's life and develops a plan to provide the child and those around the child with problem-solving strategies targeting those problem areas. Parents and caregivers are a vital part of the MST process. The multisystemic therapist teaches parents and caregivers more effective discipline methods. The therapist also helps the child understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, reinforcing appropriate behaviors with liberal rewards. The idea is that a child's behavior problems are often a result of his or her environment, and certain disciplinary measures are more effective in reshaping a child's behavior than others. Parents who are too lenient or punishing are taught that taking a more positive approach through problem-solving, rewarding good behavior and emphasizing a child's strengths rather than focusing on his or her negative behaviors motivates the child to work through his or her problems. Positive language is encouraged.

  Multisystemic therapists work with a range of people including teachers and social workers to provide the child with whatever resources he or she needs to succeed. Conduct disorder often disrupts relationships, making it difficult for anyone to deal with the child with CD. Multisystemic therapy seeks to change that by bringing together all those involved in the care of the child, along with the child, to create a cooperative effort. Each member of the child's support system is given new coping skills to help the child's healthy development.